UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team kicked off its home schedule with a 6-1 win over Georgetown on Saturday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Consistent pitching and a strong offensive showing gave the Nittany Lions the victory as they improved to 10-5 on the season.
The Nittany Lions and the Hoyas meet again on Sunday for the series finale, which has been shifted to a 1 p.m. start. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.
Daniel Ouderkirk made his fifth start of the year for the Nittany Lions, pitching four innings and recording six strikeouts, while allowing just one run on three hits and six walks. He escaped an early bases-loaded jam in the second to keep the game scoreless early on. He struck out three in that inning.
Travis Luensmann's efficiency on the mound served as the backbone for the Nittany Lions to maintain their lead throughout the day, as he allowed only one hit in his five innings on the mound. He struck out three while walking three and improved to 4-0 on the year.
Andrew Williams got the start for Georgetown, keeping Penn State scoreless through the first two innings before giving up three runs on four hits in four innings. He struck out three batters, while walking one. Carson Frye threw 2.1 frames, giving up three runs and five hits. Kyle Salley and Cody Jensen combined to finish the game.
Penn State tallied 10 hits, including four from its first two spots in the lineup. Kyle Hannon launched his fourth homer of the season to go with a single and two runs. Johnny Piacentino added two hits, including a two-run double, and a run. Josh Spiegel and Anthony Steele each contributed an RBI single.
Georgetown recorded one run on four hits. Ubaldo Lopez paced the Hoyas with two hits and a run.
Penn State jump-started its offense in the third. The Nittany Lions got their first hits of the day on back-to-back singles by Bobby Marsh and Kyle Hannon. Piacentino lifted a fly ball to center that bounced on the warning track for a double while Marsh and Hannon scored. Spiegel continued the rally with a single up the middle to drive in Piacentino and grow the lead to 3-0.
Penn State's Luensmann came onto the mound in the top of the fifth to relieve Ouderkirk. With the bases loaded, Georgetown's Cody Bowker grounded into what would be a crucial double play, started by Luensmann. However, Lopez would score on a wild pitch with two outs, giving Georgetown their first run of the game and trimming the lead to 3-1.
The Nittany Lions answered in the bottom of the fifth. Marsh battled back from a 1-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Piacentino sent a single to right as Marsh raced to third. Steele followed with a ground ball single through the right side to bring home Marsh. Penn State extended its lead to 4-1.
Penn State added another run in the sixth. With two outs and runners on the corners, Ben Kailher took off for second and drew a throw from the catcher. As soon as Kailher got in a run down, Tayven Kelley ran home from third. The Nittany Lions pushed their lead to 5-1.
Hannon came off of the seventh inning stretch with a leadoff homer to right-center, his fourth of the season, as the Nittany Lions' lead climbed to 6-1.
Season and single game tickets for the 2023 Penn State baseball season are available here. Season tickets are $75 for adults and free for youth (ages 12 and under).
The 2023 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Johnny Piacentino and Kyle Hannon